Bills, Sabres president Russ Brandon resigns after report of investigation

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Buffalo Bills president Russ Brandon on the field before the game against the New York Jets at Ford Field.(Photo: Kevin Hoffman, USA TODAY Sports)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — In a stunning development Tuesday afternoon, Russ Brandon has resigned his position as managing partner and president of Pegula Sports and Entertainment, which included his overseeing the operations of both the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres.

“I have been contemplating transitioning out of my role for some time,” Brandon wrote in a text that was sent to the Buffalo News, the Associated Press, and the Democrat and Chronicle. “My goal when the Pegula’s purchased the franchise was to reach 20 years with the Bills in which I achieved this past November. Given where we are from a timing standpoint, particularly with the conclusion of the NFL Draft, now seems like the time to make that transition. As grateful as I am for the amazing experience and the incredible people I’ve had the privilege to work with the past two decades, I am just as anxious for the professional opportunities that lie ahead.”

Brandon’s duties also extended beyond the Bills and Sabres as he also ran the Buffalo Bandits indoor lacrosse team, and the Rochester Americans, the Sabres’ American Hockey League affiliate.

Terry and Kim Pegula released a statement that read: “We have a tremendous amount of confidence in the strong leadership team we have built within each of those entities over the last several years. We are excited about the direction of our teams, especially after this past weekend’s NFL Draft and NFL lottery results. Our focus remains on building championship teams on and off the field for our fans and community.”

Beyond the statement he texted, Brandon could not be reached for additional comment, but the Buffalo News reported that his resignation is tied to an internal investigation into Brandon’s workplace behavior and allegations of personal misconduct having to do with allegations of inappropriate relationships with female employees at PSE.

Brandon, who grew up in Syracuse and attended St. John Fisher College where he played football, joined the Bills organization in 1997 during a crucial time in franchise history.

Having just won a World Series ring working for the Florida Marlins, Brandon – who actually began his career in sports working for the Rochester Red Wings along with Dan Mason – was brought to Buffalo by team owner Ralph Wilson to run his business and marketing department, and he was given an immediate task: Sell luxury suites, or else the team might be moving out of Buffalo.

In 1997 the Bills, Erie County and New York State had reached a tentative agreement on a new 15-year lease for Rich Stadium. The agreement stipulated that if $11 million in luxury seating could be sold by Dec. 1, 1998, thus unlocking $63.25 million in state aid earmarked for the renovation of the stadium, the team had to remain in Buffalo through the 2003 season, and then from 2004-2012, Wilson, or whoever owned the team at that time, could buy out the lease and move the team if they so chose.

With Brandon leading the charge, the $11 million threshold was reached, and the team remained right where it had been since Wilson founded the franchise in 1960. From then on, Brandon rose through the ranks and served in a variety of roles, essentially running the franchise the final years of Wilson’s life. His titles included president, general manager, and CEO.

Once the new lease was completed, and stadium renovations were complete, Brandon’s next coup was to increase the Bills’ visibility in training camp. They had been spending their summers in the sleepy town of Fredonia at the state college there, but Brandon recognized an opportunity to increase marketing opportunities by moving the camp to his alma mater at Fisher.

He and former Fisher president, the late Katherine Keogh, hammered out the agreement, and the Bills have been training in Pittsford in front of large crowds ever since 2000, and are contracted to remain there through at least 2021.

Brandon also played a key role in the most recent stadium lease renegotiation which was completed in 2012 and ties the Bills at what is now called New Era Field through 2023.

When Wilson passed away in 2014, it was Brandon who conducted the search for a new owner, and it turned out to be the Pegula’s, who paid an astonishing $1.4 billion, well above the $1.1 billion offer put forth by future President Donald Trump. Brandon was lauded for the price he was able to negotiate the Wilson estate.

“What a week, and what a historic period in time in our community,” Brandon said at the times. “It is certainly a great time to be a Buffalonian.”

Once the Pegulas were in control – they had already purchased the Sabres, Bandits and Americans in 2011 – they restructured their company and Brandon was given additional duties as president of the entire PSE empire, which meant the other teams the family owned, plus overlooking their Nashville-based country music label.